I entered teaching almost 20 years ago. My BS and MAS degrees are in accounting. After completing my MAS degree, I was offered the opportunity to join the national education department of one of the international CPA Firms. The Firm was looking for a CPA with a master's degree in accounting and an interest in training and development. The Firm offered me a one year sojourn that I could spend writing and developing accounting and auditing training materials. Since I had not decided what I wanted to do after graduation, I accepted the Firm's offer.
One year evolved into seven years. During this period, I discovered my passion (i.e., writing training materials and developing presentation methods that work for adult learners). While I could have stayed with the Firm and had a fulfilling career, I decided to return to the university and pursue a doctoral degree that focused on accounting education, adult education, and human resource development.
My doctoral studies built upon my years in training and development. I focused on understanding the process of growing a professional accountant (i.e., from the first accounting course to the day a person becomes a partner, controller, or similar management position). My studies went beyond the day a "partner is born" to interesting issues involving how to "keep the partner alive and kicking" after he(she) has reached the mountain top of success (i.e., how to keep the partner interested and productive for another 20+ years).
I have shared a little of my background in order to lay a foundation for discussing my approach to teaching. For, it was during the years as a trainer that I developed a simple model that I follow when writing instructional materials, teaching a class, or working with a client. Simply stated, I look through the eyes of the person that I am serving.
It is amazing how computer technology has changed the ways that I develop instructional materials and deliver materials to students. I used to be pretty creative with a typewriter, photocopy machine, scissors, and tape (i.e., "cut, paste, and attach" techniques). While I still apply "CPA" techniques, new software programs enable me to create and deliver some pretty sophisticated instructional materials.
About 3 to 4 years ago, I started posting course materials to a website. My students could access the materials and print copies as needed. My course website was originally intended to free me from the hassle of spending time with a photocopy machine.
Students liked accessing the course website. As I learned more about using my computer, the braver I became with the types of course materials that I posted to the course website. To both my dismay and surprise, I found that the more I posted to the course website, the more students wanted the website to do.
I introduced my students to Groove (v1.3) about two years ago. They took to Groove and collaboration like "ducks to a new pond."
My love affair with learning how to use computer technology to deliver and interact with my students had begun. Groove is the focus of my current research work. I am using Groove to both teach online accounting courses and as a way to collaborate with students enrolled in my "live" classes.
Some people focus on technology hardware. Some people focus on technology software. I focus on technology as a tool, much like a typewriter is a tool.
Best wishes for a safe and prosperous 2003,
Rick Lillie
Email: rlillie@csusb.edu
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